Dr R.R. Rausaria, Director, Distance Education Council (DEC), has retired from service. Earlier, Dr Rausaria worked as Registrar (I/c) in the Material Production and Distribution Division (MPDD). Dr Ram Chandra, Regional Director, RC Delhi-1, retired from IGNOU on December 31, 2010. He joined IGNOU in 1997 as Joint Director, RSD.

The Planning Commission, Government of India, has started the process of preparing an Approach to the 12th Five Year Plan. An open consultation, involving all stakeholders, is in progress. ‘Twelve Strategy Challenges’ have been identified to initiate these consultations. These Strategy Challenges, according to the Planning Commission, refer to some core areas that require new approaches to produce the targeted results.